Shelf organizer



Nov. 15, 1966 RRRRRRRR sT 3,285,429

SSSSSSSSSSSS ER l Byfw United States Patent O 3,285,429 SHELF ORGANIZER Robert L. Propst, Ann Arbor, Mich., assignor to Herman Miller, Inc., Zeeland, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed May 25, 1964, Ser. No. 369,963 2 Claims. (Cl. 211-184) This invention relates to a shelf organizer. More particularly, this` invention relates to a shelf organizer sys- -tem adapted to separate various items, such as books or files, positionedl on a shelf.

Shelves are intended to provide storage space that is exible, economical and easily accessible. However, one of the limitations inherent in the storage space on shelves is the lack of proper facilities for separating, organizing and holding items. Typical items stored on shelves are books, and as is typical of other items, much difficulty is encountered in keeping books properly organized. Usually, anything less than a perfectly filled shelf having no gaps will find books falling over, or positioned in disarray. A particular irritation is encountered upon removing one or more of the books, and then having adjacent books commence to topple over. Typical book ends are much less than adequate because first of all they require too much space on the shelves, secondly they are unhandy to maneuver when adding or removing books from a shelf, and thirdly they often simply do not function properly in holding books tightly against one another. Further, typical books ends are of course not suited to separate and control the great variety of other common shelf items.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved shelf organizer and shelf organizer system.

A further object of this invention is -the provision of such an apparatus which cooperates directly with the shelf, providing great rigidity to items supported and controlled.

A further object of this invention is the provision of such an apparatus which may be moved along a shelf when adjustment is to be made, yet is essentially immobile when placed in operative position.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of such an apparatus which utilizes a finishing trim along an edge of a shelf in its construction.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of such an apparatus which is extremely simple in construction, yet durable and especially effective in operation.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a shelf with two shelf organizers supported thereon, one held in position for movement;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along plane II-II of FIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the plane III--III of FIG. l.

Briefly, this invention relates to a shelf organizer including a divider member and a C-shaped element rigidly associated with the member, extending generally perpendicular from the plane passing therethrough. A guide rail having a contour corresponding with that of the element is provided, the element and the rail frictionally matable with one another.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the reference numeral 1 designates a shelf organizer system incorporating the teachings of this invention (FIG. 1). The system 1 includes a divider member 2, a shaped element 5, a shelf and a guide rail 15.

3,285,429 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 ICC .tic panels. It should be understood that their particular shape or composition might be varied, and could comprise wire members within the concept of this invention. Rigidly afiixed to the lower portion of an end of each dividermember 2 is a shaped element 5. The shaped element 5 is comprised of a short metal or plastic C- shaped` section (FIGS. 2 and 3). This shaped element may be welded, riveted or brazed to the thin divider panel 2, and extends generally perpendicularly from each side of the plane passing therethrough.

In the embodiment shown, the shelf 10 includes an elongated slot 11 along its front edge. The guide rail 15 is fabricated of a slightly resilient material such as extruded polyvinyl chloride, including extensions 16 which frictionally fit into the slot 11 in the shelf 10. The guide rail 15 is shaped generally to the configuration of the shaped element 5, being generally oval-shaped in the embodiment shown. It will be seen that this contour of the rail 15 forms a groove 17 in conjunction with the shelf 10 along the lower front edge thereof.

In operation, the panel divider 2 is positioned above the shelf 10, the shaped element 5 positioned to ride in the groove 17 (FIG. 3). In this position, the member 2 can easily be moved along the shelf 10 with one hand, leaving one hand free to reposition or otherwise manipulate books or other items on the shelf. By simply dropping the member 2 down on the shelf (FIG. 2), the shaped element 5 locks on to the guide rail 15. Because it is a thin section, the member 2 is capable of being inserted between books with ease for selected separation. Additionally, the member 2 may protrude out beyond the front edge of the shelf, providing an area for marking or identification of sections on the shelf. By simply cocking the organizer up or down (as shown by arrows A in FIG. l), the member 2 is respectively unlocked or locked with respect to the shelf 10. When cocked upwardly, a lateral sliding movement is facilitated, as shown by the arrows designated by the reference B in FIG. l.

This structure is especially effective in stabilizing items such as books on a shelf. Pressures applied by books and the like against the member 2 Icause the shaped element 5 to lock against movement along the guide rail 15. The greater the pressure against the divider member 2 itself, the greater the tendency to rotate the shaped element 5 with respect to the guide rail 15, thereby causing an increasingly greater locking action between the two. A locking action is still greater when the guide rail 15 is formed of a slightly resilient material as described.

Yet, even though exceptionally great stability is provided by the divider member 2, by simply cocking it upwardly, it may be readily moved along the shelf 10, the shaped mem-ber 5 sliding along the groove 17 as described.

It will be seen that this invention has provided an exceptionally effective shelf organizer system. The apparatus involved is extremely, simple, yet giving great stability to articles supported and organized. The divider member cooperates `directly with the supporting shelf, and part of the structure actually doubles as a finishing or decorative strip on the shelf itself. Reorganization of items is extremely easy, the structure being operable with one hand, leaving a free hand at all rtimes for organization purposes.

While only one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it may be possible to practice the invention through the utilization of certain other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Such other embodiments are to be included as part of this invention unless the following claims speciiically state otherwise.

I claimz' thin -divider member; a C-shaped. element rigidly secured adjacent an end of said member and extending generally -perpendicularly from each side of the plane passing therethrough; a shelf; a generally oval-shaped rail secured alongfan edge of said shelf; said rail having a contour Acorresponding with thatv of said element, said rail and Isaid element fritionally matab'le with one another; and said oval-shaped railforming a groove along the lower portion ofsaid shelf, the lower edge of said C-shaped 'element extending into said groove.

2. A shelf organizer system as definedv in claim 1, said rail comprised of a resilient material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,03 8,637 4/ 1936 Brey 20-74 2,564,386 8/1951 Webb 20-74 2,954,878 10/ 1960 Metzler 211-184 FOREIGN vPATENTS 507,443 11/ 1954 Canada.

969,002 4/ 1958 Germany.

844,324 8/ 1960 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

1. A SHELF ORGANIZER SYSTEM, COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED, THIN DIVIDER MEMBER; A C-SHAPED ELEMENT RIGIDLY SECURED ADJACENT AN END OF SAID MEMBER AND EXTENDING GENERALLY PERPENDICULARLY FROM EACH SIDE OF THE PLANE PASSING THERETHROUGH; A SHELF; A GENERALLY OVAL-SHAPED RAIL SECURED ALONG AN EDGE OF SAID SHELF; SAID RAIL HAVING A CONTOUR CORRESPONDING WITH THAT OF SAID ELEMENT, SAID RAIL AND SAID ELEMENT FRICTIONALLY MATABLE WITH ONE ANOTHER; AND SAID OVAL-SHAPED RAIL FORMING A GROOVE ALONG THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID SHELF, THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID C-SHAPED ELEMENT EXTENDING INTO SAID GROOVE. 